Actually, yes. Mostly. Despite the fact from time to time our UX designer who is responsible for research has burnout because of the systematic misunderstanding from the side of the client that research has enormous value! So, we’ve decided to help our designers prevent their nerves and burn-outs and make this article in order to explain the value and use of research.

Unsplash image by UX Indonesia

What is UX Research?

UX Research is a paperwork that designer does before the actual start of work. Research can be different:

• discovery — this is an analysis of the intro data designer receives from the client along with the analyses of all accessible docs client sent and the generation of questions that are required to make a screen map;

TheRoom example

• screen map and IA development — a chart with all the functionality and pages (screens) that cover certain functionality in the project;
• in-depth research of the market and users — this is research when we study competitors, best practices, trends in the market and users’ behavior;
• sociological research with questionnaires and interviews — is the most complex research that takes a lot of time and effort but brings amazing results for the business. Has surveys, SPSS data analyses and interviews with users;
• focus-groups and tests — happen on already-built products that require to be tested out.

As you can understand all of these researches are different, present different results and take a different amount of time. If interviews and surveys are rare birds and almost never can be ordered, discovery and IA is used on a daily bases before the start of every project. And if it helps?

Most clients can see thanks to the Discovery and IA map that:

• a designer understands the project well;
• we are on the same page;
• we have read everything for sure;
• find new takeouts and think of new things.

However, the client also may be irritated because he wants to see some UI design work but will receive the document, can be angry because questions will seem top basic and client will not understand that his project is brand new to us. So the client really needs to know the format and the purpose of the research before you start it. In that case, it will help you, in all over cases it will only make it worse and may even lead to the end of the contract.

Advantages and Cons of Research

Among the strongest things there are:

• the paper-set structure you both agreed on, so the functionality overview will not change;
• you will be in-project once starting to work on the UI;
• you already will be on the same page with the client and this communication happening on the discovery will help to make first designs easier and deliver them faster;
• you will have no questions and white sports.

However, there are also weak sides:

• if the client was not informed well, he may be disappointed with the results;
• end of the contract because of miscommunication;
• if a client doesn't want to participate in the project, discovery won’t help.